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'American Sniper' Hits (the Road) Home'“The film was a moving and accurate portrayal of the impact combat has on our soldiers and, especially, their families,” said Mark Pollack MD, chairman of Rush's Department of Psychiatry.

Community Education and Outreach

Education outreach to health care staff members

Community health care professionals work with people who have Alzheimer’s disease in many different places. These include senior housing buildings, day care programs, home health care agencies, assisted living facilities and nursing homes. These staff members also work in many different roles, including nursing, social work, dietary or activities, to name a few.

Healt care staff might come from different places and work in different roles but they share a goal — working to support people with Alzheimer’s disease. Their work is rewarding but also challenging.

The Rush Alzheimer's Disease Center offers countless educational presentations, training workshops and conferences for health care professionals who work in Chicago, across the suburbs and beyond. As an Alzheimer’s center, we are committed to share the latest in Alzheimer’s, research and care.

Below are a few examples of our educational programs:

Annual Celebrate the CNA Conference

Certified nursing assistants (CNAs) provide much support for people living with Alzheimer’s disease. This annual conference recognizes their important work while providing the latest information on Alzheimer’s disease.

This six-day course is offered in collaboration with Leading Age Illinois. Leading Age is the largest eldercare association in the state. This course provides the framework to become leaders in their Memory Care Programs. Around 20 experts in the field of Alzheimer’s disease and residential care present in this innovative course.

Building Relationships with Individuals with Dementia

This course is offered as a thank you to the many communities who are part of the Memory and Aging Study and the Religious Order Study. The course helps staff members to consider how their own jobs work to support those with Alzheimer’s disease.

For information on the professional training offered through the RADC, call Susan Frick 312-942-5359.

Education and recruitment in the community

As part of our mission, the staff at the Rush Alzheimer’s Disease Center provides education on healthy aging, Alzheimer’s disease and research to community groups throughout Chicago and the suburbs. During these presentations we share information and explore ways for people to partner with the RADC on current research efforts.

These presentations are free, interactive and informative. Many fear Alzheimer’s disease. We recognize the importance of having conversations with seniors and family members about aging, this disease and how we can work together to reduce the risks of Alzheimer’s disease for future generations.

Over the years, we have provided presentations through the following organizations:

AARP local chapters

Churches

Community Nutrition Network Centers

Community Renewal Society

Condo Associations

Family support groups

Health clinics and local hospitals

Libraries

Male Health Forum

Mather’s More Than a Café

Park districts

Police districts

Red Hatters

Retired Unit Alliances

Rush Generations

Senior centers

Westside Association for Community Action

Ward community organizations

Westside Coalition for Seniors

We are always looking to partner with new organizations. To discuss the possibility of scheduling a talk at your organization, please feel free to contact Karen Graham at (312) 942-6118.